Car-coupling



1(N0Moae1.)

W. T. RODGERS.

GAR COUPLING.

Patented Apr. 19, 1887.

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' UNITED STATES PATENT OEETCEo l VILLIAM THOMAS RODGERS,OF MOUNT UNION, PENNSYLVANIA.

CARCOUPLING.`

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 361,375, dated .April 19, 1887.

i Appliciion filed February 8, 1887. Serial No. 226.964. (No modell JQ all whom it may concern:

Be itknownthat LWTLLIAM THOMAS Ronc- ERS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mount Union, in the county of Huntand State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in .Oar-Couplings, of which the following is a specification.

j My invention relates to improvements in car-couplings; and it consists in the construction, combination, and arrangement of the several parts, hereinafter first fully described,and then pointed out in the claims.

In the annexed drawings, which fully illustratei my invention, Figure 1 is a side elevation of two carcoupling`s constructed in accordance with my invention in position to be coupled together. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line x a: of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section, and Fig. 4 is a perspective view, ofthe link-guide and coupling-pin and the securing-clamp removed from the draw-head.

Referring to the drawings by letter, A designates the drawl1ead,of any preferred construction, having the annular iiange a around itsionter end. The draw-head is secured to the under side of the car, as shown, in the ordinary manner. l

B is a sliding block A,working in the drawhead, which, in operation, presses against the end of the link and holds it in engagement with the coupling-pin. This sliding block is provided on its outer end with the usual recesses for-the reception of the pin and end of the link, and has the usual rearward eXtension, B', around which a spring, C, is coiled between the block B and a stop, c, formed on theinside of the draw-head. The sliding block is also provided with a notch, b, on its upper side, and the said notch is engaged by a guide, b', on the upper inner face of the draw-head. The sliding block is thuscaused to move steadily and rmly in a straight line.

D is a plate secured to the under side of the draw-head at or near its forwardiend. This plate D may be bolted to the draw-head below the lower plate of the clamp, hereinafter referred to; but I prefer to form it integral with the said plate and projecting from the rear edge of the same. In whatever manner, however, it may be formed and secured to the draw-bar, a space, d, must be provided be tween its upper face andthe under side of the draw-bar to admit the band,which secures the draw-head to the under side of the car.

The link-guide E is pivotally secured to the edges of the plate D by means of pivot-pins inserted through the ends of the arms e of the link-guide into the edges of the said plate. These arms c extend from the opposite sides of the link-guide up to the opposite sides ofthe plate D, and are connected to the pin carrier by the linksV F, which are pivotally secured at their opposite ends to the ends of the pin-carrier G and the arms e. The bolt f, which secures the lower ends of the links F to the arms e also holds the said arms in their proper positions relative to each other, and a notch, f', is formed on the under side of the plate D, near its front end, to receive the said bolt when the link-guideis elevated. Thelinkguide Eis secured upon the arms e, at their outer ends, at an angle to said arms, so that when elevated it will incllne forwardly and downwardly from the mouth of the drawhead in position to direct the approaching link up to and into the same. This link-guide may be formed of any suitable material, and

just behind it I form notches e' on the upper sides of the arms e, to receive the flange a when theguide is elevated,

The pin-carrier G is, as before stated, pivotally connected to the lilik-guide by the links F, and, as will be readily seen, is operated simultaneously by and willi the link-guide. The coupling-pin H is inserted through an opening provided for the same at the center of the carrier, and in operation passes t-hrough openings in the top and bottom of the drawhead, all of said openings being in vertical alignment. The pin is provided with an enlargement, h', at its upper end, which prevents its falling through the carrier, thereby choking the draw-head and impairiug the efficiency yof the device,

To prevent the pin being forced up and out I ICO through openings in the carrier, near the opposite ends thereof. These guide-rods I pass through the clamping-plates J K, which are arranged above and below the draw-head just back of the annular iiange a, and the lower ends of the guide-rods are screw-threaded and carry retaining-nuts i', which are turned up against the lower clamping-plate, 7.1, to secure the said plates to the draw-head.

In order that the rods I may not be drawn through the upper clamping-plate, and the said plates consequentlyltail to bind against the draw-head, I provide the said rods I with enlargements or lugsj, which fit in recesses in the upper side of the said clamping-plate, and consequently prevent the rods being drawn therethrough. Between the coupling-plates the rods I are provided with enlarged portions or sleeves L, which assist in guiding the sliding block B in its movements in the draw-head.

To the inner side of each of the connectinglinks I secure the Springs M, having enlargements m at their upper free ends, as shown. rllhe enlargements m of these springs engage the upper clamping-plate, J, and prevent the accidental raising or lowering of the couplingpin and link-guide.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the coupling-pin and link-guide are operated simultaneously, and that the clampiugplates .I K are all that I employ to secure the saine to the draw-head. lt will also be seen that should any part become injured it can be easily and quickly replaced by a new piece without necessitating an entirely new coupling. It will also be seen that my device can be used as an ordinary coupling by simply turning the latchfg around to one side, when the pin can be set by hand to operate in the usual manner.

Vhen coupling cars by the use of my device, the link is placed in one draw-head and the coupling-pin made to engage it by hand. Then the coupling-pin is brought down to engage thelink, the saine action will lower the link-guide and cause it to swing down below the draw-head, as will be readily understood. The car is now made to approach the car which it is desired to couple to the train, and which hasils couplingpin and link-guide in their elevated positions, as shown. As the car carrying the link approaches, the link will iinpinge upon the guide and will be directed up into the draw-head. As the car continues to approach, the flange a of `the approaching draw-head will irnpinge upon the link-guide ofthe stationary ear and will depress the same. Vhen the guide falls,it will draw the couplingpin down into the draw-head and into engagement with the lilik, and the operation of coupling will be completed.

To uncouple it is only necessary to raise the link-guide and coupling-pin, when the linkA can be readily withdrawn. It will be seen from this that the same act which uncouples the car also sets the coupling for action to couple the car at a future time.

Vhen so desired, a chain or rope may be attached to the pin-carrier and carried to the top or side of the car, so that the device may be operated without the necessity of the attendant going between the cars.

I-Iaving thus described my invention, whatI claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

1. In a car-coupling, the combination, with the drawhead, of the plate D below the same, the link-guide having the rearwardly-eXtend ing arms pivoted at their ends to the opposite edges of the said plate, the pin-carrier above the draw-head, and links pivotally secured at their opposite ends to the pin-carrier and the arms of thc linkguide, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the draw-head, of the clampingplates above and below the same, guide-rods extending therefrom, the pin-carrier working on said guide-rods, and the linkguide pivotally supported below the drawhead and connected to the pin-carrier, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with the draw-head, of the clanipingplates above and below the saine, the guide-rods held by the saine and project ing upward therefron1,the pin-carrier mounted ou said guide-rods, the link-guide pivotally supported below the draw-head, and connecting-links pivotally secured to the link-guide and the pi ncarrier, said links carrying springs which engage the upper clamping-plate, substantially as specified.

4. The combination of the pinrarrier, the pin inserted therethrough, having an enlarged head, and the latch pivoted upon the piu-car rier and swinging over the head of the pin, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, with the draw-head having an annular ange around its outer end, of the arms e, carrying the link-guide and having notches in their upper sides for the reception of the annular flange ofthe draw-head, said arms being pivotally secured beneath the draw-head, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

VILLI AM THOMAS RODG ERS.

Vitnesses:

E. K. Romans, R. M. HARRISON.

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